Have to agree with Lloyd in his praise for John. I went out with him years
ago and he was obviously very good at finding birds. I also supported him in
his claims for the Coxen's Parrot, for which as Lloyd says he copped a lot
of unfair criticism - mostly from jealous people I suspect. Well done John.
Btw, I've been unable to access the article in the Australian so far, mainly
because I don't subscribe to any of the social media spots, like facebook,
g+. Etc. Bit of a nuisance. C'est la vie.
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Lloyd Nielsen
Sent: Saturday, 29 June 2013 5:53 PM
To:
Subject: John's Night Parrot success
It is gratifying to see the positive reaction to John's Night Parrot find. I
have had the pleasure and privilege of viewing many of the photographs and
video of the parrot. I have also been privileged along the way to the
details of John's ongoing search for the Night Parrot which started about 10
years or more ago, even accompanying him on a couple of trips to the area.
Consequently, I am well aware of the monumental effort, the many, many trips
to that far western Queensland country and the huge accumulated monetary
cost to him of the ongoing project. It was much more than by a "lucky break"
or by a casual spotlighting excursion. It came about only by an extremely
dedicated, never-give-up effort over that time. The Night Parrot must be the
toughest of all Australian birds to run to earth, let alone photograph.
John and I have been close mates for about 30 years. I have worked with him
on many occasions and have made excursions with him in search of rare and
other birds over that time. From that, I have come to regard him as the best
field ornithologist Australia has ever produced. I often think that while
some of us have been given a sixth sense, John has been given a seventh when
it comes to locating and knowing birds!
As a reminder of his past efforts - John supplied much data on the rarer and
lesser known owls for that monumental publication Night Birds of Australia
(Schodde & Mason 1980). All the data he supplied still stands correct today.
He did extensive work for David Hollands when David produced his two books -
Birds of the Night, and Owls, Frogmouths and Nightjars of Australia, so much
so that David described John as "the most remarkable bushman and naturalist
I have ever met". David dedicated his first book to John, describing him as
"Prince of Owl Men". John has also been involved with video and photography
for many years - even receiving contracts from Sir David Attenborough. His
own documentary, Wings of Silence and others will always stand as testimony
to his ability to locate, study and professionally photograph the most
elusive of birds.
This time, instead of knocking his efforts (as a small group who had never
met the man unfairly did some years ago), I hope people continue to give him
the credit he deserves. I do know there is more good work to come!
Lloyd Nielsen,
Mt Molloy, Nth Qld
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